New Turkey and the Far-Right - by Selim Koru

About the Book

"Turkey is preparing for a future that is less dependent on its Western treaty allies with an alliance structure of its own. This book focuses on the new relations being built with fellow revisionists like China and Russia, Turkey's involvement in the wars in Syria and Ukraine, and Erdogan's grand strategy. The book de-exceptionalizes Turkish politics by showing how Turkey relates to the broader global trend of far-right nationalist movements. It is based on interviews with politicians from across the country's political spectrum in addition to the author's intimate knowledge of the country's far-right and Islamist traditions"--

Book Synopsis

Turkey is among a league of revisionist powers who are challenging the world order. Erdogan and his Islamist movement have aimed to create the "New Turkey", preparing for a future that is less dependent on Western treaty allies and with an alliance structure of its own.

This book is about the political ideas driving Turkey's regime change and foreign policy. It de-exceptionalizes Turkish politics, arguing that the "New Turkey" is part of a global trend of far-right nationalist movements like that of Donald Trump in the United States or Narendra Modi in India. In particular, the book reveals how far-right nationalist strands in Turkey have been nurtured by an existential resentment of the West, similar to those we are seeing in Russia. In tracing this resentment and its historical roots, the book invites policymakers and experts to better understand the new relationships Turkey is building with fellow revisionists including China and Russia, as well as Turkey's involvement in the wars in Syria and Ukraine and Erdogan's grand strategy for expansion.

The book is based on interviews with senior politicians and civil servants from across the country's political spectrum. It also benefits from the author's personal knowledge of Turkey's far-right and Islamist traditions.

Review Quotes

"In this timely volume, Koru provides a fluid account of the ideological underpinnings of some of the major strategic decisions and orientations of Turkey's leader of two decades Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his ruling Justice and Development Party. This is important reading for anyone interested in understanding the nature of the internal and external changes Turkey has experienced in recent years ." --Simon A. Waldman, Lecturer, King's College London, UK

About the Author

Selim Koru is an analyst at the Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey (TEPAV) in Ankara, Turkey, and a fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI) in Philadelphia, US.. His writing has appeared in outlets such as The New York Times, The Atlantic, Foreign Policy, and Foreign Affairs.